The Power of the King over Discipleship

Introduction: Have you heard The Call to follow Jesus Christ? Are you a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Charles H. Spurgeon penned, “Have you noticed that Jesus called His disciples? He called the twelve, but he also called the 70, and later he called the 120 to follow Him. I suggest to you that NO ONE can follow Jesus without being called by Jesus.”

To be called to follow Jesus Christ is a call to discipleship. A disciple is a follower, a student, and a learner. Discipleship affects every area of our lives:

· The Head – Surrendered to follow Jesus Christ.

· The Heart – Surrendered to be transformed by Jesus Christ.

· The Hands – Surrendered to the mission of Jesus Christ.

· The Feet – Surrendered to walking it out where you live, work, and play.

Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ?

Parallel passages: Mark 2:15-17; Luke 5:29-32

As we get into our text, we are going to see Jesus calling a tax-collector to follow Him. Here is the great truth about this – God will CALL whom He chooses to CALL! And He specializes in CALLING sinners!

I. Jesus calls a tax collector - 9:9

9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

A. Jesus saw Matthew – 9:9

He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office

Jesus saw a man named Matthew. Matthew means, Gift of God. Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:26 tells us of another name that Matthew went by, his alias, Levi, the son of Alphaeus (Matthew 10:3). He was probably from the tribe of Levi.

Matthew worked as a tax-collector. A tax-collector worked for the Roman government. They would collect taxes from the Jewish citizens on behalf of Rome. They often collected more taxes than required and kept the portion they didn’t hand over to Rome. Jews despised tax-collectors and saw them both thieves and traditors to the Jewish nation (MacArthur). No one liked them.

They were kind of like our IRS today!

B. Jesus’ call to Matthew – 9:9

And He said to him, “Follow Me.”

Jesus called to Matthew to follow Him. This is the same call that Jesus extended to Peter and Andrew, and James and John. Now, Jesus is extending a call to Matthew (a despised tax-collectors) to follow Him.

This is the same call that you and I receive to follow Jesus Christ today. It is the call of salvation and the call to discipleship. It is a CALL to become like Jesus Christ. It is a CALL to changed lives.

C. Matthew follows Jesus – 9:9

So he arose and followed Him.

Matthew heard the call, and he got up from the tax-office, and he followed Jesus. I believe that Matthew’s salvation occurred right here – at this moment in time. In my mind I picture Matthew walking out a door, closing it behind him, and hanging a sign on the door that read – I quit.

In Luke 5:28 we read,

So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ means to forsake all and to follow Him.

Why did Matthew leave his position to follow Jesus? Because of the authority of the CALL. I remind us that there is POWER behind the words of Jesus Christ.

Jesus CALLING His disciples does not come without issues. There will always be those self-righteous people who do not like the decisions of Jesus Christ. They will not like those whom Jesus CALLEDto follow Him.

II. Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners – 9:10

10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.

What do we have in this verse? According to Luke 5:29, Levi threw a party and invited all his associates. It has been suggested that Matthew wanted to introduce his companions to Jesus.

A Matthew Party

Why not throw a party for your unsaved family and friends. Matthew did! He invited his sinner friends to a party. As a host he cooked a meal, or perhaps a barbeque. Matthew wanted his friends to meet Jesus Christ.

What about us? Can we throw a Matthew Party for our friends? Sure, we can! I would encourage you to invite three-fourths of your lost friends, and one-quarter of your saved friends. Allow them to interact with one another. What is the end goal? To share the love of Jesus Christ with them. We should want to see all our unsaved friends to come to faith in Jesus Christ.

Here in our text, we have a lot of hungry people who are about to share in a meal together. There three distinct people sitting around the table.

A. Jesus was at the table – 9:10

Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house,

Jesus is sitting at the table ready to share a meal. He was an invited guest.

B. Sinners were at the table – 9:10

That behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him,

Many tax collectors and sinners also were sitting around the table. No doubt, these were the friends of Matthew.

C. Disciples were at the table – 9:10

And his disciples.

The disciples were also sitting around the table.

Do you think this Matthew Party spoke volumes to Matthew’s friends? Of course, it did. How could it not?

III. Jesus is condemned for eating with tax collectors and sinners – 9:11

11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

A. The Pharisees saw it – 9:11

11 And when the Pharisees saw it,

How did the Pharisees know that Jesus was dining with tax-collectors and sinners? They probably had someone on the inside that was a spy for them. Someone sitting at the table was probably there not to hear Jesus words, but to report to the Pharisees what Jesus was doing. They were always looking for something for which they could condemn Him.

Pharisees were the legalist of the religious parties of Jesus’ day. To eat with sinners was below them. They would never dream of sitting down at a table with such a crowd. Thank God that Jesus was not a legalist!

Have you ever heard the words: Guilty by association? These Pharisees assumed that because Jesus dined with tax-collectors and sinners that he must approve of their actions and behavior.

Jesus was a friend of sinners! We all can learn something here. As a pastor I know a few unsaved people, but most people that I am surrounded with are Christians. However, for most of you, you are surrounded by people you work with, and they need Jesus Christ. It has been said that the best thing we can do as Christians is to extend an INVITATION. Invite – invite – invite. Whether it is into your home for a Matthew Party, or to a Home Group, or to Church.

I remind you, what would it have been like if everyone of us invited at least one person to church with us today. It would be standing room only. It’s not about the CROWD, it’s about seeing lives transformed by the power of the King.

B. The Pharisees question it – 9:11

they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Note that the Pharisees speak to Jesus disciples and not directly to Jesus. In their mind Jesus was spending time with some very bad people. Why would a good person want to spend time with wicked people?

IV. Jesus corrects the misconception of His critics – 9:12-13

12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13a But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

A. Jesus corrects their misunderstanding – 9:12

12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

When we are healthy, we don’t go out and search for a doctor. It’s when we are not feeling well that we call up the doctor office and try to get in to see our family physician. Good luck with seeing your family physician these days.

· Healthy people stay away from physicians.

· Sick people seek out a physician.

B. Jesus encourages them to go and learn what this means – 9:13

13a But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’

Jesus is all about mercy. Which means, benevolence or kindness towards others. Whereas religious people are all about sacrifice. Jesus wants to provide for us what we do not deserve – mercy. But want we want to do is offer sacrifice – thinking we can add to our standing before God. Wrong! It doesn’t work that way.

Dr. John MacArthur wrote, “The Pharisees tended to focus on the outward, ritual, and ceremonial aspects of God's law, to the neglect of its inward, eternal, and moral precepts. In doing so, they became harsh, judgmental, and self-righteously scornful of others. (The MacArthur Bible Commentary, P. 1138-1139).

Here Jesus quoted Hosea 6:6. In Hosea’s day, God’s people were still good at bringing sacrifice (Hos 5:6), but they had forsaken mercy, and they abandoned mercy because they gave up the knowledge of God and truth (Hos 4:1). God would rather have right hearts, full of truth and mercy than sacrifice. (David Guzik).

C. Jesus came to save sinners – 9:13b

For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Who are the righteous in this verse?They are the ones who do not believe that they need Jesus Christ. I would say that they are more self-righteous than righteous. They would tell you that everything is alright between them and God. Because for them it is all external.

Jesus made it very clear that the purpose of His coming was to call sinners, to repentance. Truthfully that is all of us. All of us were sinners in need of repentance.

I turned from my sin on November 14, 1976, at North Valley Baptist Church. My Pastor, Royal Blue was preaching from Revelation 20. He gave an altar call to come to Jesus Christ. I got up out of my seat and I walked the aisle of the church and was met by a man (Mr. Jim Lindenburger) who showed me from the Bible how I could become a child of God. That night I prayed and asked God to forgive me of my sins, and to come into my life. He did, and my life was forever transformed. I was sick and in need of a physician. Jesus made me well.

Jesus calls sinners to repentance. The word “repentance” means to change one's mind, and to change one's direction. Are you ready to make this decision in your own life? The Bible says,

2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Conclusion: I began this chapter with the following question: Have you heard the CALL of Jesus Christ? Now, I ask you, have you responded to the CALL of Jesus Christ? Be like Matthew and leave all behind, rise, and follow Jesus.

What are some take-home truths from this section of Matthew?

1. Jesus will choose those whom society may despise, like tax-collectors and sinners.

2. When Jesus CALLS don’t hesitate to follow Him.

3. Don’t forget your sinner friends need Jesus too.

4. Throw a Matthew party for all your unsaved friends.

5. Religious people will condemn your outreach actions. Just accept it.

6. Sick people need a physician, not healthy people.

7. God desires mercy and not sacrifice.

8. Jesus came to CALL sinners to repentance.

9. Make sure that you KNOW Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord.